NCJ Number
51611
Editor(s)
S L WHITEMAN,
B L BOURN
Date Published
1978
Length
102 pages
Annotation
A TRAINING MANUAL IS PROVIDED FOR VOLUNTEER PROBATION OFFICERS IN MASSACHUSETTS' YOU, INCORPORATED, A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRAMS TO REEDUCATE AND REDIRECT YOUNG OFFENDERS.
Abstract
YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UPHELD (YOU), INC., WAS FORMED TO WORK WITH THE WORCESTER JUVENILE COURT AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PROBLEMS AND METHODS CAPABLE OF RESOLVING THEM. VOLUNTEER PROBATION OFFICERS ARE UTILIZED TO PROVIDE FRIENDSHIP AND A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH. AFTER AN INITIAL SCREENING INTERVIEW, THE VOLUNTEER TRAINING PROGRAM CONTINUES IN TWO PHASES. IN THE FIRST PHASE, GROUP-CENTERED ACTIVITIES ARE EMPHASIZED THROUGH INTRODUCTIONS, DISCUSSIONS, AND GROUP EXERCISES. IN THE SECOND, THE VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED TO DEAL WITH POTENTIAL PROBLEMS THAT MAY BE ENCOUNTERED IN THE OFFICER-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP; ROLE PLAYING AND GROUP DISCUSSION ARE EMPHASIZED. THE ROLE OF VOLUNTEER PROBATION OFFICERS AND PROCEDURAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE PROGRAM ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH CASE HISTORIES REGARDING PROBATION OFFICER INTERACTION WITH CLIENTS. INFORMATION IS ALSO PROVIDED ON THE JUVENILE COURT STAFF, THE STATE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, AND THE WORCESTER JUVENILE COURT IN TERMS OF ITS HISTORY, PROCEDURES, INTAKE, AND DISPOSITIONAL ALTERNATIVES (I.E., PROBATION AND DIVERSION). REPORT, REQUEST, AND INTERVIEW FORMS ARE APPENDED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND GLOSSARY ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)